SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) -- Jason Ricks had attempted only 10 field goals
this season for Oklahoma State, and had missed a couple of PATs that
cost the Cowboys a victory.

None of that matter at the Independence Bowl on Thursday, when the
sophomore kicker teamed up with Dantrell Savage to help snatch
victory back from Alabama.

Ricks kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8.9 seconds remaining after
to give Oklahoma State a 34-31 victory over Alabama.

"That's what I was looking for," Ricks said. "When you have that
opportunity you want to make the most of it."

Savage ran for 112 yards and a touchdown and made the key play on
the winning drive. He took a screen pass from Bobby Reid for 26
yards on third-and-9 to the Alabama 15 to put Ricks in prime
position.

Alabama tried to ice Ricks with three timeouts.

"I saw the three timeouts on the scoreboard and I had the feeling
they would call all three," Ricks said.

But the sophomore sent the kick through the uprights and he
snatched off his helmet and ran to the sidelines with it extended
over his head.

"It took a lot of time to get it off," Oklahoma State coach Mike
Gundy said. "Our offensive staff worked on some plays to get the
ball in the middle of the field. The snap was a little low, but
it was a great hold and Ricks just drilled it."

The kick saved the Cowboys (7-6) from a fourth-quarter collapse
and gave them both a winning record and their first bowl victory
since 2002. Oklahoma State blew a 14-point lead, setting up the
Crimson Tide for the tying touchdown with a fumbled kickoff return.

"We've had to fight back with some huge emotional swings," Gundy
said. "And it's evident that our team has learned to overcome
adversity."

Alabama (6-7) was playing in its NCAA-record 54th bowl game and
looking for its 31st bowl victory -- another NCAA record -- but
for much of the night the Crimson Tide's vaunted postseason history
seemed a distant memory. Bama played flat until late in the fourth
quarter.

With the Tide trailing 31-17, Javier Arenas returned a punt 86
yards to pull Alabama to within a touchdown with 10:50 left in
the game.

Then Grant Jones fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Chris Rogers --
who forced the fumble -- recovered, giving Alabama a first down
on the Oklahoma State 21. Six plays later, left tackle Andra
Smith caught a lateral from John Parker Wilson and ran 2 yards
to tie the game at 31.

It was a bitter end to a bitter year for the Tide. Playing for
the first time since Mike Shula was fired, Bama was unable to
dodge its first losing record since 2003, Shula's first season.

Alabama is still without a coach for next season after being
turned down by West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez. Defensive
coordinator Joe Kines has handled the head coaching duties
in the interim.

"I would give anything to be the head coach at Alabama," Kines
said. "This isn't an election. I don't know where to go from here.
This is the greatest job in America, and I hope to stay in some
capacity."

Oklahoma State -- ranked 16th nationally in total offense --
outgained Alabama 419-276. The Cowboys rushed for 207 yards
compared to 108 yards for the Tide.

Jeremy Nethon had 11 tackles including seven solo for Oklahoma
State and was the game MVP.

"We're a quality teams and proved it today," Nethon said. "The
win will carry us into the offseason on a positive note and it
really helps."

Reid completed 15 of 29 attempts for 212 yards with a touchdown
and an interception, and Keith Toston added 58 yards and two TDs.

John Parker Wilson completed 18 of 33 for 168 yards and a touchdown
for Alabama. He was intercepted twice.

The Cowboys scooped up an Alabama fumble on the Tide's 38-yard
line to set up the opening score. Savage ran the final yard to
cap a 38-yard drive and make it 7-0 Oklahoma State.

Alabama tied it on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Matt
Caddell with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter.

Oklahoma State went ahead 14-7 on Toston's 4-yard run. The Cowboys
stretched their lead to 17-7 on a 28-yard field goal by Ricks.

Alabama cut the margin to 17-14 on a 1-yard run by fullback Tim
Castille. But Bama was unable to stop the Cowboys final drive of
the half. Oklahoma State took it 64 yards, capped by a 7-yard run
by Toston for a 24-14 lead at the half.

In the third quarter Jamie Christensen kicked a 24 yard field goal
to pull Alabama three points closer.

Then Reid hit Adarius Bowman for a 10-yard score to give Oklahoma
State a 14 point lead at 31-17.